ISV all the way

With ISV you usually spend 2 weeks volunteering in a local community. There you do various activities from community development to conservation based on your preferences. Everything is oversaw by a group leader who works with ISV. Meals are provided this entire time. Then the fun begins with a second two weeks traveling via bus around the country with a tour leader. This is great because my tour leader got us all sorts of extra perks and activities because she had befriended a ton of people along the way, so our bike tour guy made us lunch, and the guys who took us waterfall repelling gave us a tour of the local bar scene and the rainforest. The lodgings were absolutely amazing and there was always someone around to help with translation if needed. Traveling in a group was nice to because we became a family by the end of our four weeks. I also took an optional week with ISV before hand in a local school to help learn some spanish and local customs.